As of 1897, 571,154 people populated the oblast. Caucasian Avars constituted the largest minority of the population at 27.8% (see chart below). Significant minorities consisted of Dargins and Lezgians.

¹ Italics indicates renamed or abolished governorates, oblasts, etc on 1 January 1914.
² An asterisk (*) indicates governorates formed or created with renaming after 1 January 1914.
³ Ostsee or Baltic general-governorship was abolished in 1876.